There are few more intimidating briefs in football management than overseeing a squad bursting with world-class talent. History is littered with expensively assembled clubs that imploded under the weight of their own egos. France, however, appear to be navigating that challenge rather well — and much of the credit belongs to Didier Deschamps.

The 56-year-old has been in charge of the French national side since 2012, a tenure that has seen him win the 2018 World Cup and reach the final in 2022. At the 2026 edition, that familiar pattern of in-tournament reinvention already appears to be resurfacing.

Fitting Stars Into a System

Central to Deschamps' approach this time is the challenge of integrating Kylian Mbappe as a genuine number nine. At 27, the Real Madrid forward is no longer simply the electric teenager who burned down defences in Russia eight years ago. He wants to be involved in the build-up, to press, to link play — not merely wait at the end of moves to finish them off. Deschamps' task has been to honour that without sacrificing balance elsewhere.

His solution going into the tournament was a lopsided shape — something between a 4-2-4 and a 4-2-3-1 — designed to deploy each attacking player in a role that mirrors their club responsibilities. Mbappe dropped deep and drifted wide as he does at Real Madrid. Michael Olise hugged the right touchline, cutting inside as he does at Bayern Munich. Ousmane Dembele operated as a roaming false nine behind Mbappe, echoing his function at Paris Saint-Germain.

On paper, it was logical. In the opening group game against Senegal, however, the seams began to show.

The Problems Against Senegal — and the Swift Response

Without the ball, France pressed in an aggressive 4-4-2 shape, with Mbappe and Dembele high up the pitch. But the distances between the front two and the midfield pivot of Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni were too large. Senegal's centre-backs found it straightforward to slide the ball to full-backs and then into the space between France's defensive and attacking lines, generating dangerous opportunities.

Deschamps identified the problem and acted, as has been his custom throughout his long tenure. Tchouaméni dropped into a back-three alongside William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano when France had possession, giving them a numerical advantage against Senegal's first press. Theo Hernandez took a more inverted position from left-back, and the shape in and out of possession was recalibrated.

The most consequential adjustment, though, came with the roles of Olise and Dembele. Swapping the reigning Ballon d'Or winner out of a central attacking position into a wider, more disciplined area on the right of midfield is precisely the kind of decision that requires both tactical clarity and genuine authority over the dressing room. Deschamps has shown he possesses both.

A Manager Who Earns His Stars' Trust

What sets Deschamps apart from many coaches who have crumbled under the weight of superstar squads is his willingness to make uncomfortable calls quickly — and the players' willingness to accept them. The tactical literature suggests that high-profile players often resist being repositioned mid-tournament. The evidence from France suggests the opposite is happening.

Whether it is enough to go one better than 2022 and lift the trophy remains to be seen. France were runners-up three years ago, and the market reflects their status as one of the main contenders. But the early signs from this tournament suggest Deschamps is already finding his rhythm, and France's stars are beginning to find theirs.

  • Key tactical change: Tchouaméni drops into a back three during build-up play
  • Most significant reshuffle: Dembele moved from central role to right of midfield, swapping with Olise
  • Overall objective: Reducing the gaps exploited between France's defensive and attacking lines

Frequently asked

What formation is France using at the 2026 World Cup?
Deschamps has primarily used a flexible shape that shifts between a 4-2-4 and a 4-2-3-1. In possession, Tchouaméni drops into a back three, while the wide players and full-backs take on more central roles to create overloads.
Where does Kylian Mbappe play for France at this World Cup?
Mbappe is being used as the central striker — the number nine — but with licence to drop deep and pull wide, similar to his role at Real Madrid. Deschamps has built the rest of the attacking shape around him.
Has France been to a World Cup final recently?
Yes. France were runners-up at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing to Argentina on penalties after a dramatic final. They won the tournament in 2018, so Deschamps is chasing a third major international triumph as a manager.